Dot-and-dash device.



R. T. ENGELBRECHT.

DOT AND DASH DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FlL ED NOV. 4. I916.

Patented Nov; 13, 1917.

mvmNToR Robert IErgeZbrecht WITNESSES:

return STATES PATNT CE ROBERT '1. ENGELBREGHT, or oAKtANnoALIFoRNIA;

nor-Ann-nAsH DEVICE.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT T. ENGEL- BKECHT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dot-and- DashDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a dot and dash device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pen and ruler,whereby dotted or broken lines of varying formations may be drawn; andparticularly to provide a T-square or straight edge, one or both edgesof which are corrugated or inlaid with toothed strips, and inconjunction therewith to provide a simple, easily applied ruling penattachment which is adapted to engage the corrugated or toothed edge andintermittently raise the pen as it is run along the edge. Furtherobjects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view, showing the drawing pen attachment and the ruler,whereby the dotted lines are formed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the drawpen attachment.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of theruler.

In drawing dotted or broken lines in an ordinary manner with a drawingor ruling pen, it is necessary to lift it out of contact with the paperat certain and regular intcrvals. To produce such dotted lines of neatappearance requires considerable time and experience, if the work is tobe neatly done. The lifting of the pen, in the present instance, isfacilitated mechanically by a finger which is secured to the drawing penand which engages a toothed rack or similar device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates, in general, a commondrawing or ruling pen, comprising a handle 2, a pair of blades 3, whichmay or may not be hinged together at the point 4, and a thumb-screw 5. Bindicates the ruling pen attachment. This is preferably stamped out of asuitable form of sheet metal and consists of a pointed finger 6, a pairof clamping lugs 7, which are adapted to frie Specification of LettersPatent. Patented Nov, 13 1917, Application filed November 4, 1916.Serial m. 129,496.

tionally engage and embrace one of the blades of the pen, and anupwardly projecting stop h1g8 which is engageable with the projectingend 9 of the thumb screw 5 to maintain the point of the. finger at afixed elevation with relation to the point of the pen. The clamping lugsemployed have sufficient tension to hold the finger at any point ofelevation desired with relation to the point of the ruling pen. This isof considerable importance as it permits T- squares or straight edges ofvarying thicknesses to be employed.

The edge of the T-square or guide C with which the finger engages toproduce a broken or dotted line consists of a thin metal plate 10. Thisplate is either corrugated or provided with toothed projections, such asindicated at 11. The plates may be secured in any suitable manner, butpreferably, as here shown, by forcing the plates into undercuts, such asindicated at 12, which are formed in the main stock of the T-square orruler.

By referring to Fig. 1, ,it can readily be seen that if the pen is runalong the edge of the square. indicated at 14, the finger will engagethe toothed plate and intermittently raise the pen away from the paper.The dotted lines, such as indicated at 15, are thus formed. The oppositeplate produces a dot and dash line, such as indicated at 16.

The attachment B is simple in construction and as it is secured entirelyby the frictional engagement of the spring clamp,

it can be readily removed or applied as the work or necessity demands. Apositively uniform broken line havinganv formation desired may beobtained by arranging the teeth or corrugations, as desired. and as noskill or care is required, it is obvious that perfect, uniform work willalways be secured.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are such asthe experience and udgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

It is to be noted that in order to do straight line work thefinger doesnot have to be removed from its position on the pen. All that isrequired to do straight work is to turn the pen around and use a rule orT-souare in the ordinary way of ruling, making the change from dot anddash work to straight line work instantaneous.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is An attachment for ruling pens for use with a guidehaving an undulating track associated therewith, composed of a sheetmetal member of approximate cruciform, thearms of which are bentinwardly t0- ward each other to form a pair of independent spring clampsfor engagement over opposite side edges of one blade of the pen, thelower leg of the member being formed Copies of (this patent may beobtained for to engage the track and the top of the member beingextended upwardly to engage the adjusting screw of the pen bladeswhereby to limit the extent of movement of the member relative to saidscrew.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT T. ENGELBRECHT.

Vitnesses JOHN H. Hnnnnre, VJ. W. HEALEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

